One of Bollywood’s leading directors has called on three Muslim superstar actors to break their silence about a new citizenship law that has triggered riots in India, saying they could influence millions of fans.
At least 25 people have died since crowds took to the streets enraged by the Hindu nationalist-led government’s legislation, which critics say discriminates against Muslims. “I am really angry at anyone who has not spoken out,” director Anubhav Sinha, a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, told Reuters news agency. “These three actors and their fan following is something else. One word from them can influence millions,” added Sinha, referring to Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Sinha directed Shah Rukh Khan in the 2011 film, Ra One.
The violence and the political storm raging around the law poses a dilemma for a film industry that is dominated by Muslim actors, directors and crew, but caters for India’s broader, predominantly Hindu population. A handful of figures have spoken out against the law and the violence, some at rallies in Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood. But none of the three Khans have made public statements.
Sinha said it did not matter what they said about the law or the violence, but called on them to break their silence and join the debate.
“I am not saying they should agree with me or others. Their opinion can be the opposite of what we have,” he said. Shah Rukh Khan has nearly 40 million Twitter followers, while Salman has over 38 million and Aamir 25.
None of the three Khans, who are not related, responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. Industry insiders say the lack of comments or condemnation by some of the industry’s biggest names points to a broad cultural difference from Hollywood – where actors regularly take up political causes and criticise the government. “In America, President Donald Trump cannot use the government machinery to go after actors who disagree with him, but here, that fear is very much there,” film critic and journalist Rajeev Masand told Reuters.
Modi has regularly appeared alongside actors and film industry figures at public events.
The industry has, in turn, produced films that some critics have said approached political endorsements. -Al Jazeera
At least 25 people have died since crowds took to the streets enraged by the Hindu nationalist-led government’s legislation, which critics say discriminates against Muslims. “I am really angry at anyone who has not spoken out,” director Anubhav Sinha, a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, told Reuters news agency. “These three actors and their fan following is something else. One word from them can influence millions,” added Sinha, referring to Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Sinha directed Shah Rukh Khan in the 2011 film, Ra One.
The violence and the political storm raging around the law poses a dilemma for a film industry that is dominated by Muslim actors, directors and crew, but caters for India’s broader, predominantly Hindu population. A handful of figures have spoken out against the law and the violence, some at rallies in Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood. But none of the three Khans have made public statements.
Sinha said it did not matter what they said about the law or the violence, but called on them to break their silence and join the debate.
“I am not saying they should agree with me or others. Their opinion can be the opposite of what we have,” he said. Shah Rukh Khan has nearly 40 million Twitter followers, while Salman has over 38 million and Aamir 25.
None of the three Khans, who are not related, responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. Industry insiders say the lack of comments or condemnation by some of the industry’s biggest names points to a broad cultural difference from Hollywood – where actors regularly take up political causes and criticise the government. “In America, President Donald Trump cannot use the government machinery to go after actors who disagree with him, but here, that fear is very much there,” film critic and journalist Rajeev Masand told Reuters.
Modi has regularly appeared alongside actors and film industry figures at public events.
The industry has, in turn, produced films that some critics have said approached political endorsements. -Al Jazeera
